According to information provided by the health department, “Nearly all women are able to breastfeed when they receive consistent and accurate information and are supported by the healthcare team, family and community in an environment that is breastfeeding-friendly.”

After a baby is born, breastfeeding in the first hour or so has been linked to positive health outcomes, including immediate protection from bacteria and viruses the baby is exposed to, less risk of jaundice and improved milk production and less blood loss in the mother.

“(Breastfeeding) is so important that 41 percent of infants worldwide who die between two to 28 days of life could be saved by this simple intervention of breastfeeding in the first hour,” Newton County Health Department Board Certified Lactation Consultant Cherie Herron said. “And that is because of the protection that babies immediately receive from the medicine and antibodies that comes from the milk.”

And babies instinctively know what to do.

International Lactation Consultant Association president Rebecca Mannel said, “Babies use all five senses to explore that world. They use their eyes to memorize their mothers' faces, their ears to associate her voice with her face, and their sense of smell to guide them in finding the breast. Their sense of taste is also at a heightened state, and they are particularly drawn to the flavor of breast milk.”

According to health officials, here are some of the benefits of breastfeeding for children:

- Breastfed children are more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children.

- Breastfed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and cancer before the age of 15.

- Studies have shown that diarrheal disease is three to four times more likely to occur in infants fed formula than those fed breast milk.

- Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the likelihood of ear infections and to prevent recurrent ear infections.

- Researchers have observed a decrease in the probability of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in breastfed infants.

Some of the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:

- Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life, are able to lose weight gained during pregnancy more easily and have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

- Breastfeeding releases a hormone in the mother (oxytocin) that causes the uterus to return to its normal size more quickly.

- Diabetic women improve their health by breastfeeding.

- The emotional health of the mother may be enhanced by the relationship she develops with her infant during breastfeeding, resulting in fewer feelings of anxiety and a stronger sense of connection with the baby.

Does breastfeeding hurt?

“I breastfed my daughter,” Newton County Health Department Breastfeeding peer counselor Sondra Williams said. “She breastfed during the first year. It may hurt at first just getting it figured out, but if everything is working right and you are doing it correctly, it shouldn't cause you pain. But everyone has circumstances that happen. But it should be pain-free after you get it figured out.”

As a peer counselor, Williams discusses the benefits of breastfeeding, the “how-to's” of breastfeeding and tips if the mother is going back to work and breastfeeding as well.

On how often a woman should breastfeed, Williams said it depends.

“Early on, they breastfeed every two hours or so, depending on what your baby wants,” Williams said. “As your baby gets older, like after six months, they start feeding solids, they are going to breastfeed less.”

When should one stop breastfeeding?

“The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast milk for the first six months,” Herron said. “No other complementary foods and to continue nursing for at least the first year or longer if mutually desired by mom and baby. The benefit never ends.”